# US 2013/0278751 A1 · Device and method for detecting the position of an object in a machine tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0278751 A1 - Document ID: US20130278751A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/979,181 - Filed: 2011-11-10 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-01-13 - Assignees: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH - Inventors: Walter Kranitzky; Martin Schilcher; Gerhard Muehlbauer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130278751A1 ## CPC - H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source} - B23Q 17/2428: {for measuring existing positions of tools or workpieces} - G06T 7/75: {involving models} - G06T 2207/30164: Workpiece; Machine component - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A device for detecting the position of an object in a machine tool includes a camera configured to provide an image of the object and an object carrier to which the object is connected and whose position within the machine tool is known. A first processing unit is configured to identify a position of the object relative to the camera based on geometric features of the object which are obtained from the image. A second processing unit is configured to identify a position of the object carrier relative to the camera based on geometric features of the object carrier which are obtained from the image. A third processing unit is configured to determine a position of the object relative to the object carrier from the identified positions of the object and the object carrier relative to the camera. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-11. (canceled) ### Claim 12 A device for detecting the position of an object in a machine tool, the device comprising: a camera configured to provide an image of the object; an object carrier to which the object is connected and whose position within the machine tool is known; a first processing unit configured to identify a position of the object relative to the camera based on geometric features of the object which are obtained from the image; a second processing unit configured to identify a position of the object carrier relative to the camera based on geometric features of the object carrier which are obtained from the image; and a third processing unit configured to determine a position of the object relative to the object carrier from the identified positions of the object and the object carrier relative to the camera. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device as recited in claim 12, wherein the object is a workpiece to be machined or a clamping device for fixing a workpiece on a work carrier. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The device as recited in claim 12, wherein the first processing unit includes a memory area having geometric information of different objects stored therein. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device as recited in claim 14, wherein the geometric information is stored in the form of at least one of computer-aided design (CAD) model and a camera image. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The device as recited in claim 14, wherein the first processing unit is configured to identify the object shown in the image of the camera based on the geometric information stored in the memory area. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The device as recited in claim 12, wherein the second processing unit includes a memory area having geometric information of the object carrier stored therein. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device as recited in claim 17, wherein the geometric information is stored in the form of at least one of computer-aided design (CAD) model and a camera image. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The device as recited in claim 12, wherein the object carrier forms part of a kinematic chain of the machine tool such that the position of the object carrier with respect to the machine tool is known in a higher-level control system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device as recited in claim 19, wherein the camera is attached to a part of the machine tool that does not form part of the kinematic chain of the machine tool such that a position of the camera relative to components of the kinematic chain is undefined. ### Claim 21 A method for detecting the position of an object in a machine tool, the method comprising: capturing, using a camera, an image of the object and an object carrier to which the object is connected and whose position within the machine tool is known; determining a position of the object relative to the camera based on geometric features of the object obtained from the image; determining a position of the object carrier relative to the camera based on geometric features of the object carrier obtained from the image; and determining a position of the object relative to the object carrier from the determined positions of the object and the object carrier relative to the camera. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the first determining step is performed by a first processing unit, the second determining step is performed by a second processing unit and the third determining step is performed by a third processing unit. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the determining the position of the object relative to the camera includes using a first processing unit to compare the geometric information of the object obtained from the image to geometric information of possible objects stored in a library and identifying one of the possible objects upon the comparison resulting in a sufficient match. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the object carrier forms part of a kinematic chain of the machine tool such that the position of the object tool with respect to the machine tool is known in a higher-level control system, the method further comprising, after the determining the position of the object relative to the object carrier, making the object itself a part of the kinematic chain of the machine tool such that the position of the object is known in the higher-level control system.